Lima [Peru], December 3: Peruvian presidential candidate Rafael Belaunde was driving a car when he was shot multiple times by a gunman on a motorbike on December 2.
AFP news agency quoted a statement from Peruvian police on December 2 saying that the gunman fired at least three shots at the car Mr. Belaunde was driving. The bullets shattered the glass window, causing shards of glass to cut into his skin, causing slight injuries to Mr. Belaunde.
The attack took place on December 2 in the town of Cerro Azul, about 130 km south of the Peruvian capital Lima. Police also confirmed that Mr. Belaunde drove the car himself, although it is unclear whether anyone was in the car with him.
On social network X, former Peruvian Interior Minister Gino Costa shared a photo of the windshield of Mr. Belaunde's car with bullet holes, in addition to blood on Mr. Belaunde's face and shirt. Mr. Costa, a friend of Mr. Belaunde, called on the government to ensure the safety of presidential candidates and prevent violence during the election period .
The head of Peru's electoral court, Roberto Burneo, condemned the attack and called on the government to step up security ahead of general elections due in April 2026. Pedro Cateriano, a member of Belaunde's People's Liberal Party, said the attack was "a bad start to the campaign."
Mr. Rafael Belaunde is the former Minister of Energy of Peru and the nephew of the late President of Peru Fernando Belaunde.
According to an Ipsos poll released in November, he ranked 11th with 2% of voters backing him to become president. However, there were six other candidates ranked above him with support rates around 2%.
Source: Thanh Nieu Newspaper
